Over time, I will add resources to this website that will help you explore the night sky. Venus and Jupiter Conjunction Flip Book (10 – 20 March 2012) In March 2012, Venus and Jupiter will be easily visible to the unaided eye close together in the evening twilight sky. Mid-month, the two planets will rapidly [...]
Introduction Heavens-Above.com provides free customised information for your location including whole sky star charts, predictions for the visibility of the International Space Station and other satellites (including Iridium flares). Bookmarks for all capital cities are provided below. If you are located elsewhere, you can customise one of the below links to your location. All you [...]
How to observe the 2012 Venus Transit safely On Wednesday 6 June 2012, Venus will transit (or pass in front of) the Sun. This event will next occur on 11 December 2117 making the transit of Venus literally a once in a lifetime event. Aside from the astronomical aspect of this event, there are also [...]
This page has been prepared to inform you about the many and in some cases once in a lifetime astronomical events that will be occurring throughout 2012. Events are listed in chronological order. A version of this article written for classroom teachers can be downloaded here: Teacher_Newsletter_Special_Edition_2012 Mars at opposition What? Mars reaches opposition on Sunday [...]
Welcome! If you are looking for an engaging and novel experience for your students, Canberra Planetarium Experience / Nightskyonline.info can assist you. From 2013, we will offer schools unique dome based multimedia programs using a 7 metre inflatable planetarium. Our programs are presented by Paul Floyd - who is familiar to Canberra residents – thanks to his occasional appearances [...]
‘Super’ Full Moon followed by high tides
A ‘Super’ Moon 14% larger and 30% brighter than any other Full Moon of 2012 will occur on Sunday 6 May 2012. The Moon will be larger than any other Moon of 2012 as May’s Full Moon occurs within 25 minutes of the Moon’s closest approach to the Earth for the year. The reason for [...]
Moon passes Venus 23 – 26 April 2012
The dynamic nature of our solar system can be demonstrated easily by watching the Moon orbit the Earth. Glance up at the Moon just once won’t let you achieve this though. Watch the Moon over a few nights and you will see how it moves in relationship to everything else. Why not do this as [...]
Saturn is at opposition tonight – making it prime time to look at Saturn with even the smallest of telescopes. The term opposition sounds mysterious but simply means that Saturn rises as the Sun sets tonight and sets as the Sun rises tomorrow morning. It also coincides with Saturn’s closest approach to Earth for the [...]
Watch Betelgeuse dim as asteroid 2005 UW381 transits it
If you are located in a narrow path, running from India though the Middle East and towards France, and you are interested in monitoring asteroids, keep reading. The asteroid 2005 UW 381 will pass in front of the super giant star Betelgeuse (the brightest star in the constellation of Orion). The transit will occur on January 2 2012 [...]
How to observe the 2012 Venus Transit safely (Youtube video)
On Wednesday 6 June 2012, Venus will transit (or pass in front of) the Sun. This event will next occur on 11 December 2117 making the transit of Venus literally a once in a lifetime event. Aside from the astronomical aspect of this event, there are also significant historical links between the 1769 Transit of Venus and Captain Cooks secret [...]
My expedition to Mars! The Victorian Space Science Education Center
It’s amazing how even the littlest things become hard work when you are working on the surface of another planet! Collecting soil samples, talking and even just bending over become irritating, hot and sweaty tasks when you have to wear a heavy, awkward space suit with an uncooperative radio head set. And don’t even start [...]
Free Term 2 2012 student Astronomy newsletter now available
The Term 2 2012 edition of my ‘Amazing Space!’ newsletter for students is now available for free download from this website. This term’s issue includes: Finder charts for Saturn for May and June 2012 Constellation finder charts for the Southern Cross and Scorpius Moon phases for April – June Information on June’s Partial Lunar Eclipse Information on June’s [...]